How To LA

Episodes

Listen • 50:06

Listen • 50:06

This Old House Radio Hour: Designing for Disaster: How Los Angeles Builds Back Smarter + Saving The Outsider’s House + Four DIY Fixes: Chimneys, Circuits, Ceilings, and Steam

This week on This Old House Radio Hour—what does it mean to rebuild not just homes, but entire communities?

Sunset Magazine editor-in-chief Hugh Garvey joins us to discuss the magazine’s special issue devoted to the rebuilding of Altadena and Pacific Palisades in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires. Sunset, a voice in California architecture for over 125 years, has assembled an extraordinary coalition of architects, planners, artists, and historians. Together, they offer not just a plan, but a call to action—for fire-resilient homes, culturally grounded design, and a West that can weather what’s coming.

Then we travel from the hills of Los Angeles to the streets of Tulsa, where Danny Boy O’Connor—from House of Pain—takes us inside his remarkable second act. After bottoming out, he bought a run-down house for $15,000... and it just happened to be the house from The Outsiders. What followed was a full restoration, a pilgrimage, and a new life. We take a tour of the Outsiders Museum and meet the community that made it possible.

Later, Cheap Old Houses is back—Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein spotlight a dreamy 1870s Victorian in Fredonia, Kentucky and an off-the-grid cabin on federal forest land in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, both for under $100,000.

Plus, another round of House Rules, our listener-powered game that tests your home renovation know-how. And in The Simple Fix, we show you how to find a stud in your baseboard—without breaking the wall.

And as always, we’re taking your calls. Got a house problem, project hurdle, or just need a little advice? Call us at (877) 864-7460.

All that and more, coming up on This Old House Radio Hour.

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Listen • 10:46

Listen • 10:46

It's Election Day! When Will We Know Results?

#248: The primary is on, L.A.! You can still fill out your ballot and drop it off or go in person to a voting center until 8pm. And to check out where the closest one to you is go to LAVote.net.

Now we all know turnout for local elections is not great in L.A., even if there’s a presidential candidate on the ballot. But why? And why should you participate? (One big reason: some races – including any with only two candidates – will be decided in today's election)

Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer for Civics and Democracy at LAist, walks us through these questions and has all the info you need for voting today.
Listen • 8:49
Listen • 8:49

How To Prep For Tomorrow's Primary: Voting And Criminal Justice
#247: The March primary is tomorrow, folks!

But don't worry, we got you.

LAist has a Voter Game Plan — it's super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot. It also includes shortcuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like homelessness and the climate emergency.

Today, we're talking about another one: public safety.

Guest:
- Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer of Civics & Democracy for LAist
Listen • 26:22
Listen • 26:22

Social Calendar: Make Staying Up Late Cool Again
#246: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.

Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Frank Shyong, LA Times columnist who writes about the diaspora, culture, politics. AND he shares great food content on his social channels with some of the most interesting spots to grub in LA.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Wiz at The Pantages in Hollywood until March 3. Or catch "Chicago" next.
- Late-night coffee shops in Koreatown! Make staying up late cool again.
  Cafe Mak
  Awesome Coffee
  TPO Coffee
  About Time Cafe
- Gardening! Take advantage of the rain, and it almost being spring
Listen • 22:48

Listen • 22:48

Revival House: Vidiots Brings 60,000 DVDs and a New Theater to a Historic Space

#245

Neon! Mullets! Video stores! Relive the 80s with us...

As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to Eagle Rock to check out Vidiots. The iconic video store opened in Santa Monica in the 80s, and closed its doors in 2017. But, Vidiots reopened last year in the historic Eagle theater. And yes, all of its 60,000 DVDs made the move too.

Vidiots has made renting a movie cool again – and you can check out any DVD in their massive catalog for just $3.

And, the renovated theater will be hosting screenings as part of the new Los Angeles Festival of Movies this coming April.

Check out the past and present of Vidiots and the Eagle theater with us.

Guests: Executive director Maggie Mckay, founding member and filmmaker Noah Segan, programmer Saila Reyes, and film professor and theater historian Ross Melnick.
Listen • 23:18

Listen • 23:18

Why Are Men So Lonely These Days?

#244: For the next installment of our series on How to Not Be Lonely in LA, we're honing in on one demographic: Men.

In all the conversations we’ve been having with people about loneliness and human connection...be it with experts or every day Angelenos …this theme kept coming up:

In a nation in the midst of a loneliness epidemic, A LOT of people are lonely. But men, typically, are the loneliest.

Today, How To LA producer Megan Botel speaks to experts in the male experience to unpack the reasons why men tend to be lonelier than women, the importance of male friendships, and how men can create meaningful connections.

Guests: Richard Reeves, writer, professor and president of the American Institute for Boys and Men; Shannon Carpenter, author of the book The Ultimate Stay-At-Home Dad.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the 988 website for online chat.
Listen • 23:37

Listen • 23:37

Composer And LAUSD Grad Kris Bowers On His 'Last Repair Shop'

#243: Today we’re talking to pianist, film composer and LAUSD alumnus Kris Bowers. Bowers has composed the scores for films like "Green Book," "King Richard" and "The Color Purple," and streaming series like "Dear White People" and "Bridgerton."

But that LAUSD part of his resume is very relevant to one of his latest projects.

It’s a short documentary that Bowers co-directed (along with Ben Proudfoot) called “The Last Repair Shop." It's all about the technicians who work in a repair shop downtown, fixing and tuning the more than 100,000 instruments the district provides to students, free of charge.

In addition to an Oscar nod, the film has also inspired a $15 million capital campaign — to raise funds for the repair shop and for a student apprenticeship program.
Listen • 12:49
Listen • 12:49

How To Prep For The Primary: Housing Affordability in LA
#242: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — that's fast!

But don't worry, we got you.

LAist has a new Voter Game Plan. It's a super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot and it includes short cuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like homelessness and the climate emergency.

Today, we're talking about another one: affordable housing.

Guest:
- Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer of Civics & Democracy for LAist
Listen • 1:02:58

Listen • 1:02:58

HTLA Presents: Queer Joy, LIVE!

Happy Friday, y'all! W're taking a sick day, but we didn't want to leave you without something fun for the weekend. So we're bringing you a recording of an awesome event last month at the Crawford: Queer Joy with Caitlin Hernandez. It's an hour of live music and Q&A with the artists. And if you wanna catch the next event in person, make sure to sign up for alerts at LAist.com/events